Auxiliary vehicle frame



NOV. 11, 1.952 R, Vy, KNlGHT 2,617,572

AUXILIARY VEHICLEhFRAME Filed Aug. l5. 41947 y 2 SHEETS-Smm. l

Nov. l1, 1952 R. w. KNIGHT AUXILIARY VEHICLE FRAME 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1947 JNVENToR.

Patented Nov. 11, l952 UNITED STATES r TENT OFFICE Claims. (Cl. 224-421) rlhis invention relates to auxiliary `frames vfor automobiles and the like, and to the manner of attaching such frames thereto, and more particularly to auxiliary frames to which decorative materials may be secured so as to form a float frame for use in parades, processions, pageants and the like.

Heretofore it has been quite diicult to decorate an automobile, as the surface thereof does not readily lend itself to the attachment ofr decorative materials without defacing said car surface. Also the decorative preparation of a car to be driven in a parade has been a time-consuming task, and frequently merchants and civic leaders have been deterred from participating in such events because they could not do without the car or truck a sufcient length of time for it to be properlydecorated. Any merchant or rm Who placed a car in a parade would want it to be Well and attractively decorated, if it was to bear the name of the participant, but this not only required time, but considerable money and skill, and could be used only one time.

The present invention may be completely assembled and decorated before it is placed on the car, and it is sufliciently light in Weight that it can be placed over the car and secured thereto a few minutes before the parade is to start, and as quickly removed so that the car may be back in its routine use a few minutes after the parade is over. The talent of Vskilled decorators may be used more effectively, as the work may be planned and carried out without having to consider how long the car will be out of use. This auxiliary frame may be quickly dis-assembled and stored in a small space for reuse time after time, thus saving much labor and expense, but at the same time allowing the owner of the car to participate in civic events when he would not be able to do so otherwise.

The present invention, being adjustable, is adaptable for use on a wide variety of makes of cars and trucks, and the adjustments canbe made without permanently changing o r altering the frame structure and without any special tools.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary framefor attachment to a vehicle, which auxiliary frame is sectional in form, adjustable to the particular vehicle ,on which it is to be installed, readily assembled and dis-assembled, and'adapted to receive a wide variety of decorative materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary frame for vehicles that can be assembledand decorated before being secured to the vehicle, vand that may be dis-assembled and stored in a veryV smallV space, but which may be reassembled and redecorated timeafter time.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an auxiliary frame for vehicles which serves as a foundation for a decorative oat this is light in weight,'inexpensive to make, easily assembled and installed, easily removed and disassembled for storage, and which is also capable of reuse.

An embodiment of this invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevationalview of the frame installed about a conventional type automobile, with the automobile shown in dot-dash outline;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the frame as installed on an automobile;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the frame installed on an automobile, showing the details of construction enlarged, and with parts shown in section, parts broken avviay and shortened;

Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken on the line fl-li of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but showing only one side of the frame;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the frame installed adjacent the door of the automobile to permit entrance or exit therethrough;

Fig. 7 is a perspective exploded view of a corner portion of the'frame members, showing the lugs and pins which join the side frame members together.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of an automobile having a decorated, auxiliary frame thereon.

For purposes of illustration the invention is described for use on a conventional automobile, it is to be understood that this float frame is applicable to any type vehicle, as designated by the occasion, for instance, in a historical pageant, horse drawn vehicles might be used. Also for purposes of illustration, the frame is described as made of wood, because wood is comparatively light in weight and decorative materials could be readily secured thereto, but it is to be further understood that any suitable material or combination of materials may be used for this frame.

With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral l designates a conventional type vehicle, such as an automobile, on which the frame, generally designated as 2, is attached. The frame 2 comprises the side and end members 3 and 4 which have lugs 5 and 6 secured on the ends of the respective side members 3 and 4, which lugs on adjacent frame members are secured together to form the super structure of the auxiliary frame. (See Fig. '7.)

The lug members 5 and 6 have holes therethrough to receive the respective rods 1, ,which lookA the adjacent cornersof said side frame members 3 and 4 together, so as to form a rectangular frame. Support bars 8 and 9 pass above the top of the vehicle and have adjustable, downwardly projecting bolts `8' and B adapted to engage transverse members I9 and II located Vdirectly below the respective members 8 and 9. By the adjustment of the bolts 8' and 9 the distance between members IIJ and II and the respective transverse frame members 8 and 9, may beadjusted so as to space the frame members 8 and 9 the desired distance above thevehiclelbody, and to normally support the weight Aof the Yframe through bolts I2 and I3.

Pairs of vertical bolts 't2 and I3 pass through the respective members 'iand 9 and extend downward through transverse 'members I'4 -and I5, which transverse lmembers `I 4 and 'I5 are'dispo'se'd directly below the 'respective 'members -y8 and 9. Wing 'nuts IB are provided on 'the ends of bolts I2 and I3, so 'as to hold the transverse braces f4 and I5 in suspended relation with respect to members' andS.

The" transverse'- members 8 and 9 'have Vvhooks I 8 and I9 Von the respective "outer "ends thereof, which 'hooks open "downwardly and' are attached 'to the outer ends "of `the V'respective 'transverse members for engagement with the upper 'railof ythe side frame members "3. 'Disposed inmediately below, v'and Vformed lsubstantially in `the same marmer, 'aretwo transverse `m`embers I4 and 4I5 which 'have 'similar hooks 29 4and 21 secured rto the respective outer endsth-ereo'f, but which hooks face upwardly to engage the lowermos't rail of side fraxnemembers 3, 'soas to'suppo'rt the side frame members. Y

The rods I2 and I3 .pass throughthe respective members f8 'and 9 at the 'endsfthereof"andextend downwardly "andpass through members Ill vand I5'at the endsthereof andh'ave 'wing nuits I6 mounted 'on'the upper and'l'owere'nds 'of 'bolts I2 and I3. These Ybolts are threaded Aalong the length thereof t'o permit "adjustment of "the wing nutsitlereal'ong. l

Iwo A'or -more 'longitudinal members IT .'.p'afss above the top of transverse members '8 'and 9 and havethe'fo'rwar'd and rearward ends thereof -secured to the upper `rail o'ffthe en'd members 4 byJ-'bolts I'I. The longitudinal "members "Il vserve also to 4reinfdr'ce the 'frame members -and to present additional strips to which decorative materials maybe 'secured for 'decorating'the car and'to oonce'al'thefram'e-work and thecar'therebeneath.

As shown-in Fig. '4, aA transvers'eibar Ill i's' positoned across thetop of the ea'ra'n'd "is spaee'd immediately rearward'of the door. A"'member S havingva, member II spaceddire'tlytherebelow engages another portion 'of'th'e top of thefcar, such as the hood, so as'to 'give ltw'oi-pointsuspe'nsion of the frame, as "will be 'hereinafterniore fully described. The members T9 Aan'd'II have cushions SIItherebeneath. These'c'iishibns m'ay be of sponge rubber or'ithe like,"asndic'a1ted in Fig. 8, which will prevent the frame'fromni'arring theV finish oftheatombile orther 'vehicle on which it is used. l

vThe boltsS and`9 pass'thio'ugh therespective transverse members 'and `9 'and project downwardly to engage memberslr and" I'I respectively,

tso as rto hold the membe'r'sfI'B-and II 'inbin'ding engagement with the top ofthe car'and'in spaced relation romthe transversemembers 8an`d"9 respectively. v l n The wingnutsa 'and 9aarefpositioned'below "transverse members n8 and 9, respectively, *and '4 wing nuts 8b and 9b are positioned above trans`- verse members 8 and 9, respectively, so that by the manipulation of these wing nuts 8a and 9a the respective members vIII and II can be urged downward upon the top of the car 'so asto push transverse members 8 and 9 upward, which, in turn, will lift members I4 and I5 into binding engagement with the underside of the car by means of bolts I2 and I3.

Side -frame members 3 may be held in place and supported'between hooks I8 and 20 rearward off the car door, and hooks I9 and 2l forward of the car door. With the frame members 3 supported between these hooks, as above mentioned and with the bottom members I4 and I5 drawn into binding engagement with the vunderneath side-*ofthe car/bythe transverse members I0 and II being 'forced downward to contact vthe top of the -car, Athe Ventire 'weight of the `Aframe is held in Vspaced relation to the car. The end frames 4 are 'positioned atthe ends of-side frames 3, and are so positioned that rod '1 may be passed through the respective pairs of adjacent ylugs 5 'and at each corner-of the frame. The rods 'i pass through the-lugs-and'hold the vend members incontact relation with fthe sides, so as to form a'idouble step joint vreinforcerrnent -which does not readily yield ror get Vout of square, 'when thus pinned together at all four corners.

v'One'of the lowermost end rail members of each en'd `frame `4 has pairs of J-bolts 2'2-23 passing therethrough and adapted to hook over the bumpers of 'thecan as will'best'be rseen in Figs. 2 and y3 so VastoV stabilize the frame 2 against endwise movement. 'The J-bolts 22-23 have wing nuts 2li-25 respectively mounted thereon so -thatfthe bolts 'may be tightened to put tension on the bumper at each end ofthe car. With thejframe supported by two transverse supports'l and II vat -thetop and by pairs of J-bolts V 22 and 23 at the-ends, the frame presents a comparatively rigid structure.

A door or entrance to the lcar maybe provided Voneithersor both sides, -as indicated generally'at 26.` This door panel Z'Bfmay'be made removable-byproviding hooks '21 at the top ends of upright railsV 2:8 toengagethe top rail ofvside rame `3,and :hooks J2`9 at the lower ends v'thereof, to engage the bottom rail ofthe side'rameS. Horizontal iside `rails fare attache'df tolthe upright rails 28 vof the-removable panelTB, intermediate the length of't-he rails-218, V'solas to register with the `siderails Vof'side frame Y3, to present a continuation ofthe side'rails-effthe side -frame v3; and to which side rails f'decorativematerials may be aixed laccording to lthe-"designofthe float yand-thetaste of-'the decorator. The juncture bettwr-r'enthe main frame fsidefrailsand lthe door panel-2lil may serve as a par-ting line in -the `application of the decorations, so as -to allow the ready removal of the door panel 26.

' Itis A-to -be understood that lthef frame maybe decora-ted before 'it isplaced ion and Vsecured to the car, but if desired, the'framemay 'be placed 'on the car and then decorated.

'It can 'be 'appreciated "readily that ia great vvariety of decorative effects m-aybe 'obtainedand that a variety o'f-materials'may-be used, "such las metal vfoils; -co-lore'dcellophane, v`1iowers,`bunt ing Tandthe' 1ike."'.The frame isisuncentlyisturdy to support statues,-1statuettes,freplicas;andf'even #costumed-*charactera above Pithe'icar. .Therefore `it is lpointed out that thisauxiliary frame i-is adaptable itc-'la fwide"- varietylof' uses to 'cover falmost any lconc'e'ivableln'eed -orfaioat ..Thedecorative material is shown in Fig. 9 yas applied to the frame, as indicated generally at 3l.

Provision is made in the spacing of the end rails so that an opening may be formed at the front of the frame to permit the driver of the vehicle to see ahead. Since the speed of a parade or the like is usually slow and the traffic controlled, no provision is made for side view driving, but this may be readily done as desired.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is r 1. An auxiliary frame for vehicles comprising multi-rail side and end frame members, said members adapted to be formed into a substantially rectangular frame, lugs, each having a hole therein, positioned near each end of each of said frame members, said lugs on adjacent ends of said frame members adapted to have a rod pass through said holes so as to interlock said lugs to form said frame members into a substantially rectangular frame about said vehicle, cushioned support members positioned above said vehicle and transversely thereof, transverse top frame members adjustably positioned above said cushioned transverse supports and spaced therefrom, screw threaded rods extending downwardly from said transverse top frame members and engaging transverse members passing beneath the vehicle, screw threaded means for tightening the rods so as to draw the last mentioned transverse members into binding engagement with the under side of the vehicle to support said auxiliary frame vabout said vehicle.

2. An auxiliary frame for a vehicle comprising multi-rail side and end frame members, said members adapted to be formed into a frame about said vehicle, lugs secured near the ends of each frame member, each lug having a hole therein, said lugs on adjacent frame members receiving a rod therethrough to interlock said frame members into a substantially rectangular frame about said vehicle, cushioned members adapted to rest transversely on said vehicle, said cushioned members carrying adjustable supports for supporting top transverse frame members a spaced distance from said cushioned members, longitudinal top members secured to said transverse frame members and supported thereby to form a top, said top frame members adapted to be secured to 'said side and end frame members and which side and end frame members are at least partially supported thereby, screw-threaded rods secured to and extending downwardly from said top frame members and engaging transverse members that pass below the vehicle, nuts on said screw threaded rods adapted to be tightened to bring said lowermost transverse members into binding engagement with the underside of said vehicle so as to support said auxiliary frame, said top, end, and side frame members adapted to receive decorative material.

3. An auxiliary frame for vehicles comprising side and end frame members, lugs secured near the ends of each frame member, each lug having a hole therein, lugs on adjacent frame members receiving a rod for interlocking said adjacent ends of said frame members to form a frame about said vehicle, members adapted to rest on top of said vehicle and carrying adjustable support members, a top frame comprising both longitudinal and transverse rails secured together, some of the transverse rails of said top frame being adapted to be received and supported by said adjustable support members, screw-threaded rods depending from the top transverse rails and engaging transverse bottom members adapted to pass beneath said vehicle, nuts for tightening said rods to bring said bottom transverse members into binding engagement with the under side of said vehicle to hold said auxiliary frame in place thereon, at least one of said side frame members having a removable panel therein in position to register with the door of said vehicle and to provide entrance and exit therethrough, and means for detachably mounting said panel on the side frame member to form a continuation thereof.

4. An auxiliary frame for vehicles comprising side and end frame members, lugs secured near the ends of each frame member, each lug having a hole therein, lugs on adjacent frame members receiving a rod for interlocking said adjacent ends of said frame members to form a frame about said vehicle, members adapted to rest on top of said vehicle and carrying adjustable support members, a top frame comprising both longitudinal and transverse rails secured t0- gether, some or' the transverse rails of said top frame being adapted to be received and supported by said adjustable support members, screwthreaded rods depending from the top transverse rails and engaging transverse bottom members adapted to pass beneath said vehicle, nuts for tightening said rods to bring said bottom transverse members into .binding engagement with the under side of said vehicle to hold said auxiliary frame in place thereon.

5. An auxiliary frame for vehicles comprising side and end members, lugs secured to each frame member near the ends thereof, each lug having a hole therethrough, lugs on adjacent frame members receiving a rod therethrough interlocking said adjacent ends of said frame members to form a frame about a vehicle, a top frame member having both transverse and horizontal rails secured together, supports adapted to rest transversely on said vehicle and carrying adjustable support members, said support members receiving and supporting said top frame members a spaced distance from said transverse supports, rods passing through said top transverse frame members near the ends thereof, said rods being screw-threaded and engaging bottom transverse members which pass beneath said vehicle, nuts on said rods to bring the bottom transverse members into binding engagement with the under side of said vehicle, bolts for connecting the lowermost rail of said end frame members to the ends of said vehicle to hold said auxiliary frame in place thereon, said end, side and top frame members being adapted to receive decorative material.

RICHARD W. KNIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED lIhe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 155,861 Clemens Oct. 13, 1874 1,548,527 I-Iillgren Aug. 4, 1925 1,835,480 Fendorf Dec. 8, 1931 1,984,681 Jackson Dec. 18, 1934 2,080,764 Crawford May 18, 1937 2,100,971 McDonald NOV. 30, 1937 2,109,571 Le Boeuf Mar. 1, 1938 2,357,203 Jimmes Aug. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 621,784 France Feb. 12, 1927 

